Nikola founder Trevor Milton pardoned after $1.8m bribe to Trump (Updated)
Well, here’s a weird one. We got a press release in our inboxes claiming that Nikola Motors founder Trevor Milton, who was convicted of defrauding investors of hundreds of millions of dollars, has been issued a full pardon for his crimes.
Update: This article has been updated to include confirmations from media of the pardon, to acknowledge the $1.8 million in payments Milton and his wife gave to a pro-Trump PAC, and with comments from Mr. Trump in a press conference.
In case you need a refresher, Trevor Milton was the founder of Nikola Motors who was found guilty of fraud due to false statements he made to investors in the runup to production of Nikola’s zero emission trucks.
He was sentenced in December 2023. His sentence included four years in prison, seizure of property, a $1 million fine, and three years of supervised release after serving the sentence.
The verdict and sentence related to false statements that Milton made to the public about progress with his company’s electric trucks. In particular, one situation involved a faked video of Nikola’s “One” hydrogen truck in which the truck was shown running when, in fact, it was just rolling down a hill.
Despite all this, Nikola got new leadership and did end up making battery and fuel cell electric semi trucks – we took multiple rides in them (they were pretty good, to be honest), and visited one of their fueling stations.
But it all wasn’t enough to keep Nikola from going bankrupt last month.
Fast forward to yesterday and we got a very weird press release in our inboxes – which we sat on for a little while, since it felt sketchy.
The press release came from “Trevor Milton Media,” and is highly praiseful of Milton, and also ends with an ad for an upcoming documentary. It claims that Donald Trump, also a convicted felon, has issued a full pardon to Milton. Milton also made a social media post announcing that he had gotten a personal phone call from Mr. Trump telling him about the pardon.
However, the Justice department operates a handy website cataloguing pardons – and weirdly enough, Milton isn’t on there. The website does mention an action from March 25th, so it *is* possible that it’s not updated and this will be added later – we would not be surprised by a lack of organization from anything associated with Mr. Trump.
But, whitehouse.gov also has a list of executive actions, and that’s been updated all the way to today, March 28, the day after this pardon happened. It includes an item from March 26, a pardon of Devon Archer, which is also listed on the Justice department’s pardon website as having happened on March 25.
Further, the pardon website includes no acknowledgement of pending cases for anyone named Trevor Milton, under the “search for a case” function.
And the last entry on the case against Trevor Milton is a letter from March 14th detailing the appropriate amounts of restitution – totaling at least ~$676 million – for parties defrauded by Milton.
Then, after sitting on the story for a couple hours, we saw that other outlets had reported it with the caveat that “Milton says” he’d been given a pardon – with some hoping that it’s a hoax. Reuters stated at the time that “The White House and Nikola did not immediately respond to requests for comment,” but all of this happened well past end of day, when people weren’t around to comment (nobody picked up the one call we made, either).
Finally, today New York Times, AP and others now say that the White House has confirmed this, but it still has not been posted to any official catalogue of pardons. It has also been reported that Trevor Milton gave $920,000 to Mr. Trump’s political campaign (or $1.8 million combined with his wife) and was represented in this case by Pam Bondi’s brother.
Update: Mr. Trump was asked his thoughts on the pardon in a press conference, and instead of stating his own thoughts (because, as usual, he doesn’t have any), he said that it was “highly recommended by many people,” but acknowledged that he “doesn’t know [Milton].” Mr. Trump also acknowledged that one of the reasons he supports a pardon is because Milton “liked Trump” and “supported Trump.”
Electrek’s Take
Well, we were right to think this was sketchy, but while we originally thought it could have been a weird publicity stunt of some sort, it looks like this is just the standard pay-for-play sketchiness that happens when a convicted fraudster is squatting in the White House.
The weirdness of the press release we got does warrant examination, though.
Much of it rails against the justice system in general, and against the Southern District of New York in particular – the district in which Milton was found guilty of federal crimes, and the same state where Mr. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, violating state law.
Milton’s press release argues that his case is similar to Mr. Trump’s, with both of them being victimized by the court system. It states “The striking similarities between Milton’s case and those brought against President Trump highlight systemic issues within the justice system, particularly within the Southern District of New York.” This seems like clear angling at Mr. Trump’s vanity.
The press release also name drops specific US attorneys and claims that their prosecution was flawed. This could be similar to a tactic which Mr. Trump has used before (and his ally Elon Musk), where they have publicly called out defenders of the law for doing their jobs in an apparent attempt to get them to back down or compromise their efforts.
It also seems quite similar to a proposed tactic by another corporate criminal, Sam Bankman-Fried. Fried had planned to “Go on Tucker Carlsen [sic], come out as a republican” in an attempt to angle for a pardon, again playing on the vanity, credulousness and love of fraud shown by the idiot-in-chief. Too bad Fried’s timing was off, but Milton been luckier here.
And then, in the last line of the press release, we get to a pretty funny statement – it ends with a link to a trailer for a documentary which purports to exonerate Milton, thus trying to use this news to get publicity for the upcoming video. Kind of strange that someone would need to release a documentary making the case for exoneration when one has supposedly already been exonerated, isn’t it?
So, for these reasons, we initially thought that this pardon didn’t actually happen. And it still isn’t mentioned on the pardon site, but then again disorganization is just as unsurprising as corruption when it comes to the convicted fraudster who is currently squatting in the White House (despite the Constitution having a clear legal remedy for this national crisis).
And now, in exchange for just under $2 million in bribes, Milton might be able to skip out on the hundreds of millions in restitution he owes to regular people – or at least delay it for a while until civil cases happen. What a return on investment. We’ve crossed the Rubicon, people.
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On today’s budget-conscious episode of Quick Charge, we’re building up to the reveal of a new, more affordable Tesla Model Y tomorrow that will almost definitely not be a cheap pile of misaligned plastic body parts with inconsistent panel gaps that’s utterly incapable of turning the tide on Tesla’s global decline.
Plus, we’ve got news that Tesla is in hot water with California over its alleged mishandling of its insurance business, revisit the lies told about Cybertrucks drag racing Teslas, and look at the incredible 110% increase in EV sales over at GM that’s driving Cadillac’s renaissance.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit the site at CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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Waev Inc. has just unveiled the GEM eX, a new electric utility vehicle designed to bridge the gap between street-legal low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and true off-road work machines. The company calls it the most versatile electric work UTV yet.
Unlike most golf cart–based UTVs or high-speed recreational rigs, the GEM eX is purpose-built for commercial, industrial, and government fleets that need to move between city streets, job sites, and rough terrain, all while staying emissions-free.
The vehicle features a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and is said to be DOT street-legal as an LSV on roads up to 35 mph (56 km/h), giving it a clear advantage over most off-road-only competitors.
Power is provided by a 6.5 kW motor in a rear-wheel drive setup with a limited-slip rear differential. An 8 kWh battery provides enough juice for a claimed maximum range of 85 miles (137 km).
The eX comes with several fleet-focused safety and utility upgrades, including 3-point seat belts, roof crush protection, backup camera, mirrors, pedestrian noise emitter, and a robust bumper system. It rolls on street, winter, or all-terrain tires, and the chassis features 9.5 inches (24 cm) of ground clearance, 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) of suspension travel, and a 50-degree approach angle for climbing curbs or crossing uneven work terrain.
Hill-hold assist and single-pedal descent control make it easy to handle on slopes, while a limited-slip differential helps maintain traction without chewing up turf.
In the back, a 1,250 lb (567 kg) composite dump box can fit a full-sized pallet and comes with gas-assist or electric lift options, while towing capacity matches that at 1,250 lb (567 kg). Optional hard doors, roll-down windows, and HVAC with heat and A/C turn it into a true all-weather workhorse.
The lithium iron phosphate battery pack is said to provide a long lifespan for extra durability in extreme climates from –20°F to 140°F (–29°C to 60°C). Charging is flexible via 120V, 240V, or J1772 public stations, and Waev backs the battery with a 7-year warranty – on par with many passenger EVs.
“We field-tested the GEM eX everywhere from Arizona deserts to Minnesota winters,” said Sven Etzelsberger, Waev’s Director of Engineering. “Every piece of customer feedback went back into this vehicle. The result is a work UTV that’s refined, reliable, and ready to go.”
The GEM platform has expanded significantly over the years, from its humble beginnings as a simple people mover to more recent adaptations into everything from ambulances and emergency vehicles to the new GEM eX electric UTV.
Priced at $24,955, the higher purchase price may be one of the few downsides to the quieter, cleaner, and easier to maintain alternative to traditional gasoline-powered UTVs.
Electrek’s Take
Waev’s new GEM eX seems to hit a sweet spot that’s been missing – a street-legal, electric work UTV tough enough for real jobs yet affordable and easy to maintain. For fleet managers juggling both paved and off-road environments, this could be a serious game-changer.
While the price is high, it comes in at significantly less than other well-known models like Polaris’ Zero-powered electric RANGER UTV.
At the same time, there are still more affordable options like those from KANDI that offer more power for a lower price. However, without GEM’s storied brand legacy and increased national support, cheaper options may not have the staying power to compete.
So sure, it’s expensive, but at least I’m glad to see more options coming to the market, especially from brands that have been around for years. Here’s to hoping for more affordable options in the future.
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Solar and wind power aren’t just keeping up with global electricity demand anymore – they’re pulling ahead. According to a new analysis from energy think tank Ember, solar and wind combined outpaced global electricity demand growth in the first half of 2025. That shift led to a drop in both coal and gas generation compared to the same period last year. For the first time ever, renewables generated more power than coal globally.
“We’re seeing the first signs of a crucial turning point,” said Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, senior electricity analyst at Ember. “Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.”
Solar leads the charge
Global electricity demand rose 2.6% in the first half of 2025 – an additional 369 terawatt-hours (TWh) year-over-year. Solar met a stunning 83% of that increase, growing by 306 TWh, or 31% year-over-year. Combined with steady wind expansion, renewables were able to meet rising demand and start displacing fossil fuels.
Coal generation fell 0.6% (-31 TWh), gas dropped 0.2% (-6 TWh), and overall fossil generation declined 0.3% (-27 TWh). As a result, global power sector emissions fell by 0.2%.
Renewables supplied 5,072 TWh of electricity in the first half of 2025 – up from 4,709 TWh a year earlier. Coal, by comparison, generated 4,896 TWh, down 31 TWh year-over-year. It’s the first time on record that clean energy has overtaken coal.
A global turning point
Ember’s analysis shows this is more than a blip. Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet new demand and begin cutting into fossil generation. As deployment accelerates, Ember expects clean power to outstrip demand growth for longer stretches, pushing fossil fuels into permanent decline.
But progress isn’t uniform across the globe. Among the world’s four biggest power markets – China, India, the US, and the EU – two saw fossil generation fall, while two saw it rise.
China remains the global clean energy powerhouse, adding more solar and wind capacity than the rest of the world combined. Its fossil generation fell 2% (-58.7 TWh) in the first half of 2025.
In India, clean power growth outpaced demand threefold. With electricity demand rising just 1.3% (+12 TWh) – far below the 9% surge seen last year – fossil generation dropped sharply: coal fell 3.1% (-22 TWh) and gas plunged 34% (-7.1 TWh).
In contrast, fossil generation rose in the US and EU. In the US, demand grew faster than renewables could keep up, leading to higher fossil fuel output. In the EU, weaker wind and hydro performance meant more gas and coal were needed to fill the gap.
What comes next
With half the world already past the peak of fossil fuel generation, Ember says the trend is clear: Clean power can keep up with rising electricity demand. But to lock in progress, deployment of solar, wind, and batteries needs to accelerate.
“Solar and wind are no longer marginal technologies – they’re driving the global power system forward,” said Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council. “The fact that renewables have overtaken coal for the first time marks a historic shift. But to secure it, governments and industry must step up investment in clean energy and storage so affordable, reliable power reaches everyone.”
Ember’s Wiatros-Motyka added, “With technology costs continuing to fall, now is the perfect moment to embrace the economic, social, and health benefits that come with increased solar, wind, and batteries.”
Read more: FERC: Solar + wind made up 90% of new US power generating capacity to July 2025
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